Should Hoteliers Invest in Cybersecurity?

Should Your Hotel Invest in Cybersecurity?

By Nathan Wanlass

Scammers and thieves have always existed in some form or another. Technology has made crime more prevalent and driven it further underground. As people's reliance on devices grows, digital thievery (such as hacking) will only become more common. For example, the Washington Post reported that cybercrime skyrocketed during the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic since people were relying on the internet for shopping, investing, and the like.

You may wonder whether or not your small boutique hotel, bed and breakfast or campground need cybersecurity. You might think that your business isn't "big enough" for scammers and hackers to pay attention to you. But this sort of thinking can leave you exposed to serious financial fraud. In most cases, you will be better off with more protection than with less.

On the opposing end, larger boutique hotels might need stronger protection than the average company, and buying into a smaller plan may do little to keep your confidential information safe.

Your company computers could be infected with malware or spyware. A customer's personal information can be leaked onto the dark web, a hidden section of the internet that cannot be accessed with conventional browsers. Because most of the dark web's pathways are encrypted (hidden), people can get away with illegal activity more easily.

In a worst-case scenario, your identity (or your customers' identities) can be stolen. Just as you would place a lock on your front door overnight to protect your family from criminals, cybersecurity measures can lock hackers out of the information you wouldn't want their hand in.

There are a few ways you can protect your business from criminal activity like identity theft. Some of these methods are digital safeguards and safe storage methods; others are smart behaviors and habits you can instill in yourself and your employees. A balanced use of both approaches will keep you safe from digital fraud and cybercriminal activities.

Install Computer Security Software

The most common way business owners protect their data is by installing antivirus software. Norton Antivirus and Total AV are popular kinds of this software, but they are not the only brands out there. Different kinds of software use different features to keep your information secure, and all of them are relatively inexpensive for the value they offer you.

The prices listed below are for the most basic plans. If you want a more in-depth look at the higher plans, click on their corresponding links.

Norton Antivirus Plus - $19.99/year

Virus, Malware, Spyware, and Ransomware Protection
Password Manage

r

McAfee Total Protection - $27.99/year

Malware Scanner
Secure VPN
Access to security experts and online support
Password Manager
Identity Protection Service

Kaspersky Anti-virus - $29.99/year

Virus, Malware, Spyware, and Ransomware protection
Encrypts cryptocurrency
Prevents camera hacking on your phone or computer

Bitdefender - $23.99/year

Virus, malware, spyware and ransomware protection
Stay anonymous on the Internet
Secure your wi-fi hotspots
No sacrifice on performance

Sophos - $59.99/year

Plan covers ten devices per subscription. Great value!
Preferred by larger companies for its cost-effectiveness
Antivirus protection
Identifies and blocks Malware
Accessible Live Chat Support

As you can see, each plan covers virus protection, but they occasionally dip into other niches you may be interested in. Some allow you to perform dark web monitoring to ensure your documentation and information aren't compromised and being sold online. Others enhance your digital privacy when you surf the web. Some services may be able to inform you about potential data breaches you should be aware of.

Preventing a Data Breach

Installing any of these software programs will afford you protection against harmful cyber activities. However, it is not enough to depend on them alone. Preventing a data breach takes a personal, concerted effort to set yourself up for protection. This is also how you prevent identity theft.

The Best Way to Store Passwords

If people don't have the key to access your home, it makes it much harder for them to get to your valuables inside. Your password is the key to your accounts, where your personal savings, access to your social media, and insider information could lie. Your password should be difficult to guess and preferably easy for you to memorize.

Avoid using one password for all or most of your accounts. Doing so can be devastating to your personal credit, your personal finances, and your employees' information as well. Additionally, it is wise to change your business account password every 90 days. You can save them online if you have a secure server. If you don't have safeguards like computer security software, you should probably just have them memorized.

Last of all, make sure your passwords are complex enough that people cannot guess them (you don't want anyone guessing that your password is "password"). Smart passwords have a combination of letters, numbers, symbols, and capitalized letters. Don't use obvious chains of numbers or one word to safeguard your info.

Two-Step Verification

This is a necessary feature for all your major accounts. If a cybercriminal obtains your company or personal passwords, and you have two-step verification enabled, they would need you to manually approve access to your account through your personal device. Without your approval, hackers will be unable to get into your accounts.

Email accounts, social media accounts, and your cloud should all have the ability to turn on two-step verification. It takes two minutes to set up and upgrades your security significantly.

Text Alerts

Let's say you didn't set up two-step verification and someone got into your account. Wouldn't you like to know if someone broke in as soon as it happened? Much like a home security system with an alarm, text alerts can get you to focus on the problem immediately and can dissuade criminals from getting too comfortable on your account.

Credit card alert apps (like Chase Text Fraud) can do this whenever a transaction occurs on your bank. But you can also set alerts for other important accounts. This can give you a chance to secure as much of your data as possible, and contact those who can kick the criminals out.

Avoid Online Scams

You also shouldn't invite random strangers into your accounts. Scammers are rampant online. People want your data to hack your accounts, sell to businesses, or steal your identity. If you know what to look for, it can be exceptionally easy to identify when someone is trying to steal from you.

Email scams are one of the primary methods by which scammers attempt their "business". They'll claim they are an official government entity, bank, or other insurance company, and say that you need to send them your social security number, phone number, and other such data. If you find one of these in your inbox, don't even bother clicking on it. Keep an eye out for bad grammar, weird text blurbs, and a lack of official documentation.

Additionally, do not click on random links. One tactic scammers will try is they will send you an email that has hardly any information that will take you to a website with potential viruses. Don't fall for it!

Avoid giving any information to someone who doesn't have the authority to ask. They may be trying to go phishing for your data. While they aren't inherently scammers, they will take your info and divvy it out to the highest bidder. This forces unwanted emails into your face every time you log in to your account.

While these are just a few examples of scammers and criminal behavior online, this can give you an idea of what you should look for. If your employees use an official company email, make sure they are aware of scammers so they don't give out information to someone they shouldn't. Avoiding internet scams should be part of your company's training regimen.

VPNs and the Cloud

Last but not least, what you use to store confidential information as well as house your company's internet capabilities will determine whether your company is at risk of being hacked. Keeping your network secure and out of the public's availability is a smart way to keep your data secure.

VPN

Some businesses will invest in a virtual private network (VPN) to make it basically impossible for a hacker to access sensitive data. According to Kaspersky, "A VPN connection establishes a secure connection between you and the internet. All your data is routed through an encrypted virtual tunnel." Not only does a VPN disguise your device's IP address, but it also makes your network less vulnerable to external threats. If you have remote workers, they can access your VPN without any problems.

The Cloud

One smart way to backup your company information is by relying on the cloud. Despite what some people have claimed, data stored in the cloud is generally safe, and it is exceedingly difficult for someone to access your information without the right credentials.

In 2014, people were initially skittish about using the cloud after a group of celebrities had sensitive documents and pictures leaked from their devices. The victims claimed that the cloud was not safe to use, as that is how they stored the data. But this was found to be incorrect. The actual weak point in Apple's services at the time was in its password security system, according to BBC news. They have promoted various security measures (some of which were mentioned previously) to fortify these former weaknesses.

Thus, if you are using smart passwords, have two-step verification up, and have alerts in case someone gets past these, you don't need to worry about someone hacking your cloud. You are already doing what is necessary to keep your company safe.

Summary

Computer Security Programs

Review the different types of software that can protect your computer from viruses.
Determine what features you are looking for and how much you are willing to pay.
Common features include virus scanning, password management software, and dark web monitoring.

Preventing a Data Breach

Ensure that your passwords are protected and smart.
Write them down or memorize them for maximum security.
Implement security measures like two-step authentication and text alerts to know what is going on with your accounts at all times.
Be aware of online scams and train yourself and your employees how to deal with them.

Safe Servers

Avoid using public servers, as they can easily be hacked.
Investing in a VPN can protect your business from external threats. It even works remotely!
If you are using other security measures, it is safe to use the cloud for backup data storage.

MARKETING

OPERATIONS

CASE STUDIES

THEORY

MARKETING

OPERATIONS

CASE STUDIES

THEORY